Delivery gripper for printing presses



May 23, 1950 J. F. BANTHIN 2,509,030

DELIVERY GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 19, 1947 INVENTOR. y"fumar FBANT'HIN l23 B F19. E'

AT TORNE Y Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELIVERY GRIPPER FOR PRINTING PRESSES 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in printing presses and delivery grippers for the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a pressed steel delivery gripper of much greater strength than those heretofore proposed.

Another object is to provide a delivery gripper which may be easily and quickly removed from and replaced on a press.

A further object is to provide a delivery gripper of generally improved construction including several novel features combining to provide a very useful and desirable article.

An additional object is to provide a printing press wherein the delivery grippers may be independently adjusted and independently removed and replaced without disturbing the adjustment or setting of any of the other parts of the press.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 isa top plan view of a delivery gripper of the invention, the same being positioned on supporting and cam shafts;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the delivery gripper;

Fig. 5 is an isometric View of the gripper finger and Fig. 6 is a similar View of a spring employed.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present delivery gripper is shown as comprising a frame generally designated I and which is blanked and formed from sheet metal, as for example, steel. Frame I0 is elongated and is transversely U-shaped. Thus, the frame comprises a pair of side walls II and I2 and a bottom wall I3. In their forward portions, the side walls are relatively shallow and together with the forward portion of the bottom wall define a channel I4 in which are located a gripper shoe I and a gripper linger I6.

Bottom wall I3 has the major portion of the gripper shoe thereagainst and such shoe is held in place as by rivets I'I passing through an inner portion of the shoe and said bottom wall. The forward end portion I8 of the shoe extends forwardly of the frame I0 and is curved slightly upwardly as shown. In their forward end portions, the side walls II and I2 are bent inwardly as at I9 and then outwardly, providing winglike portions 20, as is customary in the art.

The gripper finger I6 is located above the shoe I5 and is pivotally mounted as on a shaft or bar 2I supported in the frame side walls II and I2. Pivot pin 2I is of steel and is chrome plated for long wear. A spring 22 includes a pair of eye portions 23 located about the shaft or bar 2l, one in each side of the nger I6, and further includes arms 24 and a bight portion 25, the latter being disposed under the inner end of the gripper finger. In addition, spring 22 includes arms 26, the free end portions of which bear against the bottom wall I3.

With this construction, it will be apparent that the spring 22 is constantly urging the gripper finger IG about the pivot 2| in a direction to have the forward lower bev-elled surface 2 of such finger in engagement with or tending t0- 1 ward engagement with the projecting end portion I8 of the gripper shoe I5. However, it will be clear that the proper pressure on the inner end portion of the finger I6 will overcome the spring 22 and result in the nger being rocked to carry it forward and upwardly away from the shoe.

Rearwardly of the gripper finger, the side walls I I and I2 of the frame are widened or heightened providing relatively deep portions 28 and 29. A slot 30 is provided in these side wall portions 28 and 29 and enters from the rearward ends thereof .and extends to a point spaced a slight distance rearwardly from the rear end of the finger I6. Extending continuously about said slot 30 is an angularly related flange 3l, which flange serves to very materially strengthen the frame structure at this point. Slot 30 is of reduced width at its inner end portion and preferably terminates in an arcuate end 32 for engagement with a portion of the surface of a cam shaft or gripper finger operating means 33.

In its larger rear portion, the slot 30 is designed to receive a supporting shaft or bar 34 and preferably the slot is carried inwardly or restricted, as at 35, so that such restricted portions are engaging the outer forward portions of the shaft 34 when the frame is mounted on the latter and the cam shaft. It is noted that the continuous flange 3i bears against the shafts 33 and 34 whereby the shafts are not engaged merely by the edges of the side wall portions 28 and 29 of the frame but are engaged over a substantial area. Attention is directed to the fact that the supporting means 34 and the cam shaft or gripper nger operating means 33 are at least generally parallel.

A rivet or other means 35 is used to mount or secure a double nut 31 against the underside of the rearward portion of the frame bottom Wall I3. Substantially aligned with the nut 31, but straddling the upper edges of the rearward portions of the side walls 28 and 29, is a lock cap 38. This cap comprises anupper wall-like portion 39 extending over the upper edges of the side walls 28 and 29 and further includes side portions 46 disposed at the outer, sides o f the upper edges of said side walls 2B and 2S. In addition, lock cap 38 includes end flanges 4I located between the side wall portions 28 andA 29 at the respective ends of the top wall 33 of said lool:- cap( When thedelivery gripper is to be mounted on the supporting shaft 34 and the cam shaft 33, the gripper issirnply moved inthe direction of its length after aligning its slot 3!! with such shafts whereby to dispose the shafts in the illustrated psitions in the slot. Thereafter, bolts 42 are passed downwardlythrough the wall 39 of the lock cap and at each'side of and preferably in engagement with the shaft 34. These bolts are thenthreaded into tapped holes provided in the double nut 3l. If desired, spring lock washers 43 may be provided under the heads of the bolts-12. The cam shaft 33 and the supporting shaft 34 areparts of the printing presses and are adapted for transverse or lateral movements forwardly and rearwardly as a unit and the cam shaft is also adapted for a rocking or oscillator movement. Further, these Shafts carry a plurality of the illustrated delivery grippers and these grippers are nibveol longitudinally as the shafts are moved transversely to carry the grippers forwardly to grasp a sheet of paper or the like, and then to carry the ngers rearwardly to deliver such sheet of paper or the like.

On the cam shaft 33 isV mounted av collar 44, located between the side wallsA of the frame IB'. This collar carries a radially projecting pin 45. As the shafts are movedv forwardly carrying the delivery grippers, 'cam shaft 33 is oscillated to rock its collars 44' and the pins 45 of the latter arecarried downwardly against the rear end portion 43 of the gripper nn'ger II rocking the latter on its Vpivot 2 I, as to the'position of Fig. 3. Thus, after 'the 'proper forward movement, a sheet of paper, cardboard or other material is received between the open 'ends of the shoe i5 and finger IB, as between the end I8 of the shoe and the surface 21 of the finger.

Then the cam shaft is rocked in the opposite direction, carrying the pin 45 away from the inner or rear end of the iinger whereupon the spring 22 acts to rock the finger back toward the position of Fig. 2 so that the paper, cardboard or the like will be gripped between the end portion I8 of the shoe and the surface 21 of the iinger. Thereafter, as the shafts 33 and 34 start rearwardly, the paper, cardboard or the like is shifted rearwardly and ai or toward the end of the stroke, the cam shaft is again rocked or o'scillated to have the pins 45 rock the ngers I6 against the tendency of the springs 22 so as to have them release the paper, cardboard or the like. To avoid unnecessary wear, it is preferred that the ngers I6, collars 44 and the pins 45 be hardened.

With the described construction, it will be clear that should one of a series of grippers be damaged, removal of the shafts 33 and 34 is unnecessary in order that the damaged gripper be replaced. It is but necessary to remove the bolts 42, whereupon the gripper may be slid forwardly longitudinally and then a new gripper may be slipped over the shafts at the proper place simply by a longitudinal movement of the new gripper. The bolts 42 are then re-applied'andtlie pie'ss'is again ready for use. The shoe I5 is hardened in its narrow forward portion I8.

Should the damage to a gripper be merely in ing the shaft or pivot 2l and then replaced, and

the shoe may be removed by clipping the rivets II vand theieaf'ter riveting a new shoe in place. In

the event of damage the spring 22 and the pivot 2l may each be easily and quickly replaced. Should it become necessaryto replace the nut 3l, this is easily eeeiiipushdy removing the rivet 3:'5 and then rivetingY a new n ut in place. The angular structure of the whole fiare and particularly the angular structure about ,the jslot SII makes for a strong, rigiddevice which may suiie'r considerable abuse without bending' iit of shape or breaking.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have` provideda delivery gripper for printing presses and the lil'e, and which'gripper is of great strength and yetis a pre 'Jd steel product that is banked, pierced and formes in dies, as are used in sheet metal presses. Fu'rtliei, the present delivery gripper maybe readilyre'nieved from the supporting and .cam shafts 'of a pressl and a new gripper substituted. This substitution may take place withoutrdisturbirig any' adjustment or any mounting of any part of 'the press 'other than that particular deliveryfgripper' 'vvliizh is to be renewed. Attention fsfaljso Called t6 the f-bt that the Supporting shaft `34 'and the c straftV 33, being independent, and the collars da 'on vthe latter shaft being eac'li individual te th'efresp'ctive gripp'ers, thatby adjusting said collars [about the cam shaft meuiffrent grippers. may te individually adjusted to provide f o'r theiprperten'sion for the gripping of paper of `vario liicknes's'es as well as for the early or later" gr g" or releasing of the paper sheets. After adjustment of any collar 4d, it i'sse'clled'in itis new position as' by tightening of it's'setscrew 4'I.

Having thus set forth the 'nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a delivery fgripperir printing presses and the like, an velon"gated frame, a gripper shoe and a gripper nge'r meunt'd ''n the forward portion of said frame, andladapted `for relative opening and 'closing movements, 'said frame hav'- inga slot opening through itsrearward end and extending longitudinally' therein' whereby the gripper maybe located A"on `geiie'rall'y' parallel supportingk 'and'` gripper finger Aoperating shafts simply by a movement of the gripper in .the direction of its length relative to said ,supporting gripper ringer 'operating' shafts to locate the gripper with said shafts in 'said lslot, and means t0 clamp the portionsof the gripper at the sides of said slot against the supporting and gripper finger operating shafts to thereby `mount said erpiel- Y,

2. In a delivery gripper, an 'elongated sheet metal frame, a gripper shoe anda cooperating gripper finger mounted on and extending forwardly of the forward end i'ao'rtion of said frame and adapted for relative opening and closing movements, said frame having a slot opening through its rearward end and extending longitudinally thereof whereby the gripper may be located on generally parallel supporting and gripper ringer operating shafts simply by a movement of the gripper in the direction of its length, said frame about said slot including angularly related portions, and means passing through said frame and across said slot and drawing the frame portions at opposite sides of the slot toward one another to clamp the frame to parallel supporting and `gripper finger operating shafts.

3. In a printing press, a pair of generally parallel shafts of which one is a supporting shaft and the other a cam shaft, a delivery gripper comprising an elongated transversely U-shaped frame, said frame having a slot opening through the rearward edge of its side Walls whereby the frame may be mounted on said shafts by rearward movement in the direction of the length of the frame, bolts passing through the frame portions at each side of said slot and at each side of said supporting shaft and clamping the frame to such shaft, a collar on the cam shaft between side walls of said frame and adjustable about the shaft and provided with a radially extending portion, a gripper shoe on the forward portion of said frame and projected beyond the forward end thereof, a gripper finger on the forward portion of the frame above said gripper shoe and pivotally mounted, a spring normally tending to rock said gripper finger about its pivot to carry one of its ends toward said shoe, and said gripper finger having its rear end disposed to be engaged by said radial projection when the cam shaft is rocked in one direction whereby said finger is rocked against the tendency of such spring.

4. The machine as in claim 3 wherein said frame is of sheet metal and includes a lateral ilange extending entirely about said slot and in portions bearing on said shafts.

5. In a, delivery gripper, an elongated transversely U-shaped sheet metal frame, a gripper shoe and a cooperating gripper nger mounted in the forward portion of said frame and extending beyond the forward end thereof and adapted for relative opening and closing movements, said frame having a slot opening through its rearward end and extending longitudinally thereof whereby the gripper may be located on parallel supporting and gripper finger operating means simply by movement of the gripper in a direction of its length, a double nut on the bottom wall of said gripper adjacent the rear end thereof, a lock cap straddling the upper edges of the rear portions of the side wall of said frame, a pair of spaced bolts passing through said lock cap and threaded into said double nut, and said bolts spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the outside diameter of the supporting means.

6. In a delivery gripper for printing presses and the like, an elongated frame, a gripper shoe and a gripper nger mounted on the forward portion of said frame and ladapted for relative opening and closing movements, said frame having a slot opening through its rearward end and extending longitudinally thereof whereby the gripper may be located on parallel supporting and cam shafts simply by a movement of the gripper in the direction of its length, said slot at its inner end terminating in a radius approximating that of the outside diameter of the cam shaft, and means passing through said frame and across said slot and drawing the frame portions at opposite sides of the slot toward one another to clamp the frame to parallel supporting and cam shafts.

7. In a delivery gripper for printing presses and the like, an elongated frame, a gripper shoe and a gripper :linger mounted on the forward portion of said frame and adapted for relative opening and closing movements, said frame having a slot opening through its rearward end and extending longitudinally thereof whereby the gripper may be located on parallel supporting and cam shafts simply by a movement of the gripper in the direction of its length, said slot being of a greater width in its rearward portion and of lesser width in its forward portion, in said respective portions being of widths substantially equal, respectively, to the outside diameters of the supporting and cam shafts, and means passing through said frame and across said slot and drawing the frame portions at opposite sides of the slot toward one another to clamp the frame to parallel supporting and cam shafts.

8. The device as in claim 5 wherein said lock cap in addition to straddling the walls of said frame includes end lugs extending between the upper portions of the walls of the frame and filling the space therebetween whereby said lock cap prevents both spreading and collapsing of said walls.

9. In a delivery gripper, a frame including a bottom wall and side walls, a gripper shoe on said frame, a gripper finger Within and pivoted on the frame intermediate its ends above said shoe, a spring located wholly within said frame and mounted on the pivot for the gripper linger and including arm portions engaging a wall of said frame and a U-shaped arm portion disposed at the underside of the rear portion of said gripper nger whereby said spring is normally tending to rock the gripper nger about the pivot to bring the forward portion of the gripper finger against the forward portion of said shoe. JOHN F. BANTHIZN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSy Number Name Date 462,524 Ballard Nov. 3, 1891 1,543,374 Everett June 23, 1925 2,107,248 Johnson Feb. 1, 1938 2,374,668 Davidson May 1, 1945 

